It's been nearly a week since Hutwig disappeared. I'm extremely worried as I've found no trace of him since the day he vanished from the field. I had been in the house most of the day, since Gram was not feeling well and needed help. When I went to call Twiggy in for supper, as he would never come on his own, he was gone. As I told my brother Corrben, the man would never abandon the harvest, he was working even after the other hands had gone home. I found nothing but trampled crops and Twiggy's basket, the harvested contents spilled all over. Bill's men say they saw nothing, as surprised as I was that Twiggy had just disappeared. Corrben looked over the scene after I went to town to tell him, we found prints that lead off into the fields. I followed them as long as I could but they disappeared at the stream. There had been several men that was certain for it would take much to knock out the strong farmhand.
The trail has gone cold and there has been no ransom letter or hint of where he might have gone. Perhaps the southerners took him, forcing him to join their efforts but I could not see Twiggy doing that. He's too proud and kind, he works harder than anyone I've ever met and I could not see him willingly turning to a life of raiding. What other reason though could it be to steal a man from the fields? I have hardly slept and my mind seems to turn over the darkest of thoughts when it comes to not only Twiggy's fate but that of my parents. The messenger has not returned in a fortnight.
I must oversee the harvest, I work the men hard and offer them bonuses but Twiggy's absence is sorely missed, not only in the fields. I must admit, I did not realize how much I leaned on him for support and his enduring optimism and faith in me meant so much. I might hire someone to track him down, a private sellsword or investigator, whatever it might be. That person would have a greater freedom of movement that the Watch would not have if Twiggy's been taken out of Breeland.
Tomorrow, I will speak to someone in the company my sister works for if I've heard no word. I do not have much hope now and I wish I had not waited. The worries weigh heavy on me and I can see the moon setting now, it is only hours until dawn and I have not slept. I must try, or I'll be useless.
